Translation and Meaning of: 彼女 - kanojyo

The Japanese word 彼女 (かのじょ) is an essential term for anyone learning the language or interested in Japanese culture. Its main meaning is "she" or "girlfriend," depending on the context, and its use permeates from everyday conversations to cultural productions such as animes and dramas. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and practical uses of this word, as well as curiosities that help to understand its relevance in the Japanese language.

Understanding 彼女 goes beyond simple translation. Knowing when and how to use it can prevent misunderstandings, especially as it carries important cultural nuances. If you've ever wondered why the Japanese use this word in certain situations or how to memorize it effectively, keep reading to find out!

Meaning and usage of 彼女 (かのじょ)

彼女 is a versatile word that can mean both "she" and "girlfriend". Context is crucial to define which meaning is being used. In sentences like 彼女は学生です (Kanojo wa gakusei desu), the most common translation is "She is a student". On the other hand, in dialogues like 彼女がいますか？ (Kanojo ga imasu ka?), the meaning changes to "Do you have a girlfriend?".

This duality can confuse beginners, but with practice, it becomes easier to distinguish the uses. It is worth noting that when referring to "girlfriend," 彼女 is more informal and everyday, while terms like 恋人 (koibito) may sound more formal or poetic. The frequent use in anime and popular songs also reinforces its presence in the daily lives of Japanese people.

Origin and writing of 彼女

The composition of 彼女 is interesting for those studying kanji. The first character, 彼 (kare), means "he" or "that," while 女 (onna/jo) represents "woman." Together, they form the idea of "that woman," which evolved into the current meanings. This structure is common in Japanese, where combinations of kanji create words with specific nuances.

It is worth noting that 彼女 emerged as a modern adaptation to refer to women in the third person, something that old Japanese did not clearly have. Before the Meiji period, the language did not have a widely established feminine pronoun, and 彼女 was incorporated under Western influence, becoming standard over time.

Tips for memorizing and using 彼女 correctly

An effective way to memorize 彼女 is to associate it with everyday situations. For example, imagine a dialogue where someone asks about another person's girlfriend. Phrases like 彼女は優しいです (Kanojo wa yasashii desu – "She/my girlfriend is kind") help to internalize the double meaning in a natural way.

Another tip is to pay attention to the suffixes and particles that accompany the word. When 彼女 (kanojo) is followed by particles like は (wa) or が (ga), it usually indicates "she." In possessive constructions, such as 私の彼女 (watashi no kanojo), the meaning tends to be "my girlfriend." Watching authentic content, such as doramas, also exposes the learner to real uses of the expression.

Curiosities about 彼女 in Japanese culture.

"Kanojo" frequently appears in song lyrics and anime titles, reflecting its importance in the language. Popular songs, such as "Kanojo wa Kureeshon" (彼女はクレーショ), showcase how the word is artistically used. Furthermore, in romantic narratives, it often defines central relationships in the plot.

An important cultural aspect is that in Japan, asking 彼女はいますか？ (Kanojo wa imasu ka?) can be considered intrusive depending on the context. Japanese people tend to avoid very personal questions in casual conversations, so it's good to use this expression with caution, especially with recent acquaintances.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 彼女 (Kanojo) - She, girlfriend
• 女友 (Onna-yuu) - Female friend can refer to a girlfriend depending on the context.
• 恋人 (Koibito) - Lover, boyfriend/girlfriend
• 伴侶 (Hanryo) - Partner, spouse, emphasis on a more formal relationship
• 女性 (Josei) - Woman, more general term
• 女子 (Joshi) - Girl, young woman, can also be used in informal contexts or with children.
• 女子供 (Joshi-kodom) - Girl
• 彼女さん (Kanojo-san) - Respectful way to refer to a girlfriend or partner

彼女

Romaji: kanojyo
Kana: かのじょ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: she; girlfriend; darling

Meaning in English: she;girl friend;sweetheart

Definition: A person who has a close relationship with a woman, or with the woman.

Example Sentences - (彼女) kanojyo

See below some example sentences:

私は彼女のような強い女性に憧れています。

Watashi wa kanojo no you na tsuyoi josei ni akogarete imasu

I admire strong women like her.

I long for a strong woman like her.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - personal pronoun meaning "she"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, in this case "hers"
• ような (youna) - expression meaning "like" or "similar to"
• 強い (tsuyoi) - adjective meaning "strong"
• 女性 (josei) - noun meaning "woman"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the target of the action, in this case "to"
• 憧れています (akogareteimasu) - verb meaning "to admire" or "to have admiration for", conjugated in the present tense and polite

私は彼女との再会を待ち望んでいます。

Watashi wa kanojo to no saikai o machinozonde imasu

I am anxiously waiting for the reunion with her.

I'm waiting for me to find her again.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "girlfriend" or "her"
• と (to) - particle that indicates the connection between "I" and "she", in this case, "with"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "of the"
• 再会 (saikai) - noun meaning "gathering" or "meeting"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "to wait"
• 待ち望んでいます (machinozondeimasu) - verb that means "to wait eagerly"

私は彼女に愛を告げた。

Watashi wa kanojo ni ai o tsugeru

I declared my love to her.

I told her love.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the addressee of the action, in this case "to her"
• 愛 (ai) - noun meaning "love"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case, "love"
• 告げた (tsugeta) - verb meaning "to declare" or "to confess", conjugated in the past tense

私は彼女を慕っています。

Watashi wa kanojo wo shitau shiteimasu

I admire her.

I long for it.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 慕っています (shitatteimasu) - verb meaning "to adore" or "to have affection for" conjugated in the present continuous

私は彼女の健康を案じています。

Watashi wa kanojo no kenkō o anjite imasu

I'm worried about her health.

I'm thinking about your health.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - personal pronoun meaning "she"
• の (no) - Particle that indicates possession
• 健康 (kenkou) - noun that means "health"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 案じています (anzjiteimasu) - verb that means "to be worried" and is conjugated in the educated present continuous

私は彼女に仕えることを決めました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni tsukaeru koto o kimemashita

I decided to serve her.

I decided to serve it.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "for her"
• 仕える (tsukaeru) - The word is "serve" or "work for"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to serve"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to serve"
• 決めました (kimemashita) - verb that means "decide" in the past, in this case, "I decided (to serve her)"

私は彼女の愛を感じます。

Watashi wa kanojo no ai wo kanjimasu

I feel her love.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" belongs to "her"
• 愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate that "love" is the direct object of the sentence
• 感じます (kanjimasu) - The verb in Japanese that means "to feel" is "感じる" (kanjiru).

私は彼女に愛を授けました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni ai o sazukemashita

I gave her love.

I gave her love.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• に (ni) - target particle in Japanese, used to indicate the recipient of the action
• 愛 (ai) - It means "love" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the action
• 授けました (sazukemashita) - verb meaning "to give" or "to grant" in Japanese, in the past tense and polite

私は彼女に会うときはいつもどきどきしています。

Watashi wa kanojo ni au toki wa itsumo dokidoki shiteimasu

I always get anxious when I find her.

I always throb when I know it.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 彼女 (kanojo) - It means "she" or "girlfriend" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - destination particle in Japanese
• 会う (au) - verb that means "to find" or "to meet" in Japanese.
• とき (toki) - noun that means "time" or "moment" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• いつも (itsumo) - adverb that means "always" in Japanese
• どきどき (dokidoki) - onomatopoeia that represents the sound of a heart beating fast, used to express nervousness or anxiety in Japanese
• しています (shiteimasu) - present form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese

私は彼女の悲しみに同情します。

Watashi wa kanojo no kanashimi ni dōjō shimasu

I empathize with her sadness.

I sympathize with her sadness.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 悲しみ (kanashimi) - It means "sadness" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - particle that indicates action or direction
• 同情します (doujou shimasu) - means "sympathize" or "have compassion" in Japanese